That’s What It’s All About!
Posted By Kristabella on April 11, 2011
On Sunday, my sister, my nephew and my niece came down to the city. My sister is a nanny and two of the girls she watches were competing in a cheerleading competition at Navy Pier. So I decided I would meet them down there and spend the afternoon with them and get plenty of Auntie time in with Tommy and Maddie!
The plan was that my sister was going to take the train down and we’d meet at Navy Pier around lunch time. Well, they missed the train, so she ended up driving to my house and we all took the bus and the train downtown together.
My sister is not much of a city person. She loves the country. She’s the exact opposite of me. So she doesn’t take public transportation much. But it was fun to take all of them on the CTA with me. Maddie enjoyed being on the bus, for sure!
It was a perfect day – the weather was beautiful, in the upper 80s and sunny! It was the first warm day since probably last summer! I mean, shit, it was 40 on Friday! We took our time and just enjoyed being together. It was exactly what I needed.
At the cheer competition, I got to meet the family my sister nannies for. They are really nice people and the kids are adorable. The dad was really nice and just like me and talks to everyone. At one point I was giving my sister a break and watching Maddie crawl around on the cement floor and he said to me “wow, you can see how much she loves her auntie.” Then he asked if I had kids of my own, yada, yada, and then I had to chase her away from picking up a crumb on the ground and eating it.
This man had never met me before, but he’ll never realize how much that comment meant to me. I mean, I do love my nieces and nephews so, so much, and they know it. And I want them to love me just as much. But it makes me happy to have others see it. I’m sure it’s an ego thing, but since I currently have no kids of my own, it’s important to me to be a part of their lives.
Every time I mention to people that I previously lived in Arizona and California, 99% of them will always follow that up with “why on Earth did you move back?” And I explain that it was to be closer to my family. It is probably what a lot of people say, but I mean it. I moved back to Chicago for my nephews (this was pre-nieces). I do not regret it for one day because Tommy, Noah, Skyler and Maddie KNOW their Auntie and they love their Auntie and they get excited to see me! THAT is why I moved back. Seeing them only a few times a year wasn’t going to work for me.
That one sentence from a person I didn’t even know made me realize that this is what life is about. It’s not about material goods, or work or how much money you have in your bank account. Family is what it is about. And as long as you have that, you’re good to go.
And this is what I need to remember.
Unless if you’re family who shares my shoebox-sized condo with me for months at a time. Then all bets are off.
About the author
I moved back to my hometown five years ago, something I thought I’d never do, when my first niece was three and my second niece was six months. I am SO glad I’ve been able to spend these years watching them grow into such wonderful, interesting little people!
Your niece, by the way? Adorable!
What a beautiful post!!!!! Those kids DO have the best Auntie EVER!!!
I love that you are such a great auntie…to your real nieces and nephews and, you know, to the Martell kids 🙂
That pic of Maddie on the bus? DELISH!
My Tuesday night “date night” with my nephew is my favorite part of every week. If I have to travel on Tuesday for work I’m one grouchy girl for the week. I’m glad to see someone else who loves their family as much as I do!
I haven’t even seen you with your family (or the Martells) but just how you talk about them shows how much you love them.
Your niece is SO STINKING CUTE.
Angella´s last blog post ..Them
Priorities. You haz dem right.
burghbaby´s last blog post ..What A Way To Go
My immediate family and I never lived very close to me extended family due to my dad’s job location, which means I saw my extended family two or three times a year. Conversations are always somewhat awkward because I hardly know them and never know what to say… Your post is an inspiration to do better on my end! 🙂
that look of wonder on your niece’s face is so precious-she is so curious and fascinated! But you are right, that is what it is all about at the end of the day!
Sensibly Sassy´s last blog post ..Sassy Sidenote- UmMeow
It’s always seems to be those off-the-cuff comments by complete strangers that have the hardest impact, what is that! You said it best though, at the end of the day it really is those that are closest to us that matter most…
And that picture is precious!